Europe's illicit drug market is rapidly evolving, with cartels increasingly using young people to traffic dangerous synthetic opioids, according to a new report from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).

The Lisbon-based agency identified at least 50 new psychoactive substances in Europe in 2025, highlighting the growing risk of nitazenes—potent synthetic opioids found in common street drugs like cocaine, heroin, and ketamine.

"Drug markets are evolving at speed, with the variety of substances on Europe's streets becoming ever more unpredictable," warned EUDA Executive Director Lorraine Nolan. "This raises the risk of people taking high-potency drugs, often without knowing it."

Transport methods are also changing: cocaine increasingly arrives via smaller, less-scrutinized ports. Smugglers use drones, speedboats, and even semi-submersibles to move drugs from South America or Africa.

The report notes that supply chains increasingly involve young people recruited from deprived districts of European cities. Their tasks include logistics, sales, intimidation, violent assaults, and even contract killings, while criminal masterminds remain in the background.

Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with 24.9 million adults (15–64) reporting use in the past year. The illicit cannabis market is valued at around €12 billion ($13.9 billion). Cocaine is second, with 4.3 million adult users in 2024.

The EUDA estimates at least 7,600 overdose deaths in 2024, most involving multiple substances.

Source: www.dw.com